The Yamaha NS-10M studio reference monitor speaker (aka NS10M) is widely popular amongst audio professionals, and is notorious for its very flat frequency response even to the point that they are not pleasant to listen to. The wants and needs of the audio engineer are different than the typical consumer, so this is a welcome thing as the NS-10M monitors will reveal the truth of mix. The NS-10M studio monitors are almost an industry standard for mixing and are easily recognized by their standout white mid-range driver.

Features

2-way studio reference speaker

mid/woofer: 18 cm (7") sheet-formed white-cone

tweeter: 3.5 cm soft dome dome tweeter

frequency response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz

input power: rated for 25 Watts (max. 50 Watts)

impedance: 8 ohms

sensitivity: 90 dB SPL (1W, 1m, on axis)

crossover point: 2 kHz (12 dB/oct)

enclosure: wood, black finish

volume: 34 L

dimensions: 382 x 215 x 198 mm (15" x 8-1/2" x 7-7/8")

weight: 6.3 kg (13 lbs 14 oz)

price: ~$550

Tissue Paper Phenomenom

Engineers unhappy with the "ugliness" of tHe NS-10M speakers in their studio have devised a scheme in which they cover the tweeter driver with tissue paper to reduce some of the high frequencies, giving them a warmer sound. Bob Hodas has done an in-depth analysis of this practice. A redesigned NS-10M Studio model appeared later that rectified the problem with the tweeter, making the tissue paper solution obsolete.

Availability

Originally released circa 1982, Yamaha discontinued the production of the Yamaha NS-10M speakers (somewhere before 2003, reference needed), and replaced them with the Yamaha MSP5, and Yamaha MSP10 studio monitors. In spite of being discontinued, the NS-10M are still widely used in studios and even won Yamaha Corporation a Grammy in 2007 for their technical excellence and impact on the recording industry. You can find them online sold as a balanced pair on eBay selling for around $550.